Loose leaf binder



Aug- ,24, 1937- c. v. sT. Louis 2,091,189

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 11', 1955 2 Flc. 1

8 35 27 32 ao as INVENTOR CHARLES V. ST. LOUIS BW J/w/L ATTORNEY,

Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDERApplication November 11, 1935, Serial No. 49,150

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a visible record loose leaf binder of theshifting prong type, and more particularly to a safety prong to preventclosing of the binder in shifted position.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple and eicient meansfor preventing the closing of the back sections of a visible recordshift binder in shifted position that will not interfere with the normaloperation of the binder.

l0 It is a further ob-ject of this invention to provide means effectivefor preventing shifting of the prong carrying` plate When the backsections are in closed position. Other objects of this invention willbecome apparent upon reading the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a crosssectional View through a loose leaf binder embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the binder in shiftedposition; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the binder in closedposition.

In the drawing, the reference numerals 2 and 3 indicate a pair of backsections hinged together by means of a hinge pintle 4 which passesthrough a plurality of hinge sleeves 5 and E, extending from the inneredges of the back sections 2 and 3, respectively. The back sections 2and 3 are preferably covered by ber strips 'l and 8, re-

spectively, shaped to conform to the contour of the back sections andriveted thereto.

A box member 9 is secured in the back section 2. The box member 9includes a top wall lll and a side wall II. The side wall II is providedwith a plurality of integral extensions curled to form hinge sleeves I2which embrace the pintle 4 to help secure the box member in the backsection. A box member I3 having a top wall I4 and a side wall I5 issecured in the back section 3.

A ilat curved bar I6 is welded or riveted to the underside of the topwall I0 adjacent each end of the binder and has its curved endprojecting through an aperture Il in the side wall II. The curved end ofthe bar I6 is provided with a pair of teeth i8 adapted to projectthrough an aperture (not shown) into the box member I3. A slide bar I9is secured adjacent the inner side of the wall l5 in any suitablemanner. The slide bar has a turned end 20 to facilitate manipulation ofthe slide bar. A coiled spring 2| has one end secured to the wall I4 andits other end to a stud 22 projecting from the slide I9 to urge theslide toward locking position. The slide bar I9 is provided with a notch23 adjacent each bar I9 so that the teeth I8 may engage the edge 24 (Cl.12g- 17) adjacent the notch 23 to retain the binder in either closed orintermediate position. Inward movement of the slide I9 disengages theteeth I8 from the edge 24 to permit opening of the back sections. 5

A plate 25, carrying a plurality of prongs 26, is mounted in the backsection 2. The plate 25 is held against lateral or vertical movement bymeans of a plurality of ears or projections 2l, bent from the outer edgeof the back section 2, 10 and 28, struck out from the wall I9. The inneredge of the prong carrying plate 25 abuts the wall Ill.

A hinge plate 29 is welded or riveted to the prong carrying plate 25.The outer edge of the hinge plate 29 is provided with a plurality ofintegral extensions curled to form hinge sleeves 39.

A pintle 3| passing through the hinge sleeves 39 also passes throughcomplementary hinge sleeves 32 formed on a cover 33 to hinge the coverto 20 the binder. The prong carrying plate 25 is further secured to thehinge plate 29 by means of a plurality of tongues 34 struck out from theplate 29. The tongues 34 project through apertures in the plate 25 andare bent thereagainst. The 25 cover 33 may be shifted longitudinally ofthe back section 2 and the prong carrying plate moves with the cover. Acover 35 and a prong carrying plate 36 are rigidly secured to the backsection 3.

A safety prong 31 is welded or riveted to the 30 underside of the wallI4 of the box member I3. The safety prong comprises a flat bar havingits free end curved similar to the bar I6. The free end of the safetyprong projects through an aperture 38 in the side wall l5. The side wallIl of 35 the box member 9 is provided with an aperture 39 inregistration with the aperture 3S to permit the free end of the safetyprong to enter the box member 3 when the back sections 2 and 3 are movedto closed position. 40

A plate member 40 is rigidly secured to the prong carrying plate 25 bywelding or riveting. The hinge plate 29 is notched, as indicated at 4I,to allow clearance for the end of the plate member 40. The free end ofthe plate member 49 is 45 turned up adjacent the wall I I, as indicatedat 42. The plate member 49 may be provided with any suitablereinforcement 43. The member 49 is so positioned that its free end 42lies adjacent the aperture 39 when the binder is not shifted, as in- 50dicated in Figure 3, and moves to close the aperture 39 when the prongcarrying plate is moved to the shifted position, as indicated by Figure2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the member 40 effectivelyprevents closing of the back sections when the prongs are in shiftedposition and will not interfere with such closing when the prongs are intheir regular position. When the back sections are in closed positionany attempt to shift the prong carrying plate 25 in one direction willcause the member l2 to engage the free end of the safety prong 37.Shifting of the prong carrying plate in the opposite direction isprevented by the engagement of the ears 21 with the hinge sleeves 3Q.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention indetail, it will be understood that many specific features may be changedor modified without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact constructiondescribed, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections hinged together, abox member carri-ed by each of said back sections, a safety prongprojecting from one of said box members, an aperture in said other boxmember adapted to receive said safety prong when said back sections aremoved to closed position, a shiftable prong carrying plate secured toone of said back sections, and means in said apertured box member toclose said aperture when said prong carrying plate is in shiftedposition.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections, a box member carriedby each of said back sections, a prong carrying plate rigidly secured toone of said back sections, a safety prong projecting from the box membercarried by said one back section, an aperture in the other box memberadapted to receive said safety prong when said back sections are movedto closed position, a p-rong carrying plate slidably secured to theother back section, and means secured to said slidable prong carryingplate engaging said safety prong to prevent sliding of said prongcarrying plate in one direction when said back sections are in closedposition.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections, a pair of boxmembers secured to said back sections, a prong carrying plate slidablymounted on one of said back sections, a stop member rigidly secured tosaid slidable prong carrying plate and slidable therewith, said stopmember being positioned within the box member secured to said one backsection, and a safety prong secured to the other box member, said safetyprong cooperating with said stop member to prevent shifting of saidslidable prong carrying plate in one direction when said back sectionsare closed and to prevent closing of said back sections When said prongcarrying plate is in shifted position.

CHARLES V. ST. LOUIS.

